"Why the hell do I have to hangout with you on my day off? It's not even my fault you don't like me!" Lance grouched, stomping ahead of Keith on the sidewalk.

"Allura demanded it," Keith replied monotonously. Like he was bored. "If you'd prefer to be fired though, that works for me. I have to walk my dog soon."

At that Lance blanched.

Keith 'stone cold' Kogane had a dog? The fan sites didn't mention that. And they mentioned everything from hair color to what color nail polish Keith wears on his toes.

How'd they miss him owning a dog?

He voiced those thoughts then, turning to see Keith looking at him. His violet eyes were soft in a haze of confusion, head tilted not unlike a puppy.

"You read about me online?"

Busted.

He could hear Marco and Ronnie cackling in his head as his face broke into a flustered glare. "I mean I've seen some things. You are totally famous, Y'know."

"Yeah but so are you. If you wanted to know anything you could've just asked." Keith shrugged his stupidly broad shoulders as if this wasn't a breakthrough in their entire relationship.

As if this wasn't what he has been trying to complete since they met.

No Keith was not going to get to be the bigger person!

"No! No I couldn't have dude. I've been trying to ask you things this whole time! You hate me or something I swear." He protested, indignant that Keith would even act like he could've just asked.

He's been asking for fucks sake.

A middle aged woman on a bike rode past them then, flowers hanging out of her bag as she zipped down the sidewalk.

Right, they were in the middle of the walking path.

He was about to suggest they move when Keith opened his mouth with an annoyed furrow of his eyebrows.

"Not my fault you ask stupid questions." Keith defended.

Stupid! He asked if he was a swiftie. How was that a stupid question?

That was a very telling bit of personal character.

"I do not! Maybe you're just stupid!" His voice was getting loud and a little squeaky but he didn't care. Not when it was his honor at stake.

He asked the best questions thank you very much.

If there was an award for best question asker person he would've won that award so many times he'd need to buy another shelf just to hold them.

How dare he imply anything else?

"What are you five? I'm not stupid. You're stupid, jackass. I've been trying to talk to you this entire time but you always get dramatic and act like I shot your baby!" Keith yelled back, attracting the attention of some passerby.

That was such a morbid comparison what the fuck. A reply died on his tongue as he tried to figure out how the hell to reply to that.

Luckily it wasn't a very busy street at this time of day and they only attracted a few annoyed looks from their yelling.

"Keith, you're bothering your elders. Show some respect!" He hissed back finally in order to divert from this conversation.

His brain felt like it was moving through quicksand as he tried to piece together when Keith attempted to make friends with him.

Keith hasn't tried talking to him at all. Other than to tell him he sucked at acting and they should practice more together.

And that he might be bothering the staff by flirting so much and god he was being a nuisance.

There was also that one time when Keith asked if he even knew who Shiro was, which of course he does.

Shiro is like the Brad Pitt of their day!

Then he mentioned something about Shiro being at a bar to meet up with him after work and even named the bar. Like a jackass.

Rubbing it into his face that he knew the big deal actor.

Oh.

Oh.

Maybe he was a little stupid.

"These people are like forty." Keith snapped back.

"Oh." Was all he could come up with. Keith had seriously been trying to befriend him this whole time in his own emotionally stunted way?

Well now he felt like a dick.

"Wait. Were you asking if I wanted to go for a drink with you and shiro that one time?!" He yelled out as his mouth finally caught up to his brain.

"Yes? Then you got all pissy and told me I suck. I figured that meant you don't drink but then the rest of the week you were really annoyed whenever I tried to apologize. I shouldn't have asked if you wanted to drink without knowing if you're comfortable with it. Sorry." Keith rushed everything out a little breathlessly like he was afraid Lance would stomp off or stop him from finishing.

"Oh my god. I suck. I thought you were rubbing your friendship with Shiro in my face because he's so cool and-"

"People think he's cool? I think he's a nerd." Keith muttered, cutting him off in a way that seemed unintentional.

"How is he nerdy? He could crush my head like a melon with his biceps alone!" He yelled.

"He's my brother. I think I have to think he's a nerd. Muscles be damned." Keith was smiling a little now as he spoke, a dimple dotting his pale skin to match. It was really cute.

"Brother?! Aw man I need to let this process. Can I take you up on the drink now? Or is it too late?"

"Sure we can go for a drink. I know a place." Keith grabbed his wrist and started to lead him down the sidewalk and for once Lance didn't feel torn between kissing him off camera or punching his face in.

The option was clear.

They could kiss and then fight.

Wait no that's not right.

They were friends now. Kissing off camera and fighting were both off the table.

Unless...

"So we're friends now?" He asked as Keith weaved them through increasingly busier streets.

"If you want to be then yeah I'd like that."

"Great." Lance grinned back at the raven haired man despite his internal pouting.

Damn it. Off the table it is.

-red